Sucker rod tightener



1946- J. D. CAVANESS 2,409,104

SUCKER ROD TIGHTENER Filed Feb. 26, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet l cifi. awaneas 011?; 3945, J. D. cAvANEss SUCKER ROD TIGHTENER Filed Feb. 26, 1945 :s Sheets-Sheet s Patented Oct. 8, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT GFFlCE SUCKER ROD TIGHTENER James D. Cavaness, Arlington, Tex.

Application February 26, 1945, Serial No. 579,877

Claims.

1 This invention relates to well pumping apparatus and more particularly to an improved tightener for sucker rods.

An object of this invention is to provide an automatically operable means mounted on and around the polished rod for automatically rotating sucker rods clockwise in one cycle of movement of the rods.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device of this kind which is active on the upward stroke of the polished rod for progressively rotating the rods.

A further object of this invention is to provide a device of this kind which is simple in its con-- struction and positive in its action within certain adjusted load ranges for progressively rotating the sucker rods as the rods are lifted upward.

Further object of this invention is to provide a device of this kind which includes a housing secured about the rod and provided with pawl and ratchet means active under the weight of the lifting of the sucker rods to progressively rotate the same in one direction.

To the foregoing objects, and others which may hereinafter more fullyappear, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts, as will be more specifically referred to and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, but it is to be understood that changes, variations, and modifications may be resorted to which fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a detail side elevation partly broken away and in section of a polished rod tightening and rotating device constructed according to an embodiment of this invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 44 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 2.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral ID designates an elongated polished rod of conventional construction which is in turn attached to sucker rods extended into a well. A housing generally designated as H is disposed about the rod I3 and includes a pair of oppositely extendingtrunnions 12 which are carried by the opposite end walls [3 and M. The looped lower ends N3 of a clevis 16 are adapted to engage the trunnions I2, and are connected to the walking beam for raising and lowering the housing H to effect vertical reciprocation of the polish rod H). The housing H includes opposite side walls l1 and I8 and a top wall Hi. The lower end of the housing I l is open and is formed with a downwardly tapered or flared flange l9, having a cylindrical flange 29 formed integral therewith, so as to provide a relatively large diameter circular chamber 2! in the lower end of the housing. The top wall i9 of the housing ii is formed with an opening 22 within which a plate 23 is loosely mounted. The plate 23 has formed integral therewith a bushing M which extends partly within the housing II and partly above the top wall IE, and is formed with an opening 25 through which the rod Hl loosely engages. The upper end of the bushing 24 is formed with a ball race 26 on which anti-friction balls Elengage. A second anti-friction element 28 is disposed about the rod iii, being formed with a ball race 29 and a ball retaining ring 33 is interposed between the two races '28 and 29. A split clamp 3| is secured by fastening members 32 to the rod it above the anti-friction member 28 and is adapted to hold the rod IQ against lengthwise movement with respect to the anti-friction bearing formed by the bushing 24, the collar 23 and the balls 27.

In order to provide a means whereby the rod Ill will be rotated as the rod is elevated or raised, I have provided at opposite ends of plate 23 a pair of ledges 33, having inclined lower surfaces 34 on which plates 35 are secured by fastening devices 35. A horizontal ledge-3! is carried by each end wall of the housing I I, being formed with a horizontal upper surface 38 on which a bearing plate 35 is secured by fastening devices 49. A wedge l is interposed between the two plates 35 and 39 and anti-friction rollers 42 are interposed between the upper inclined side of wedge ll and plate 35. Anti-friction rollers 43 are interposed between the lower horizontal side 44 of wedge ll and lower horizontal plate 39.

A rock lever 35 is rockably carried by a pivot 46 and the upper end 4? of rock lever 55 is disposed in a position for engagement with the large end of wedge ll, so that when the wedge moves to the left, as viewed in Figure 4, rock lever 45 will have the lower end thereof shifted to the right. A pivoted pawl or dog 38 is rockably mounted on a pivot 49 engaging through the lower end of rock lever 45 and includes a weighted free end 50. A serrated disc or plate 5! is disposed within the annular flange 2%], the teeth 52 of disc 5| being adapted to be engaged by pawl t8; Disc 51 includes a split bushing 53, which is clamped by means of fastening members 3 to polish rod I8. Disc 5! is held against reverse rotation by a resilient holding dog 55 secured by fastening members 58 to the lower side of flange l9. Holding dog 55 is adapted to engage teeth 52 of plate 5!, so that disc or plate 5| will be progressively rotated for rotating rod it under the action of the rocking of lever 55, In order to provide for the movement of wedge ill inwardly with respect to plates and 3S and the idling movement of pawl I have provided a resilient lever operator 5?, which is mounted in a housing 53 carried by an obtusely disposed arm 59. A cap 851 telescopes over the housing 58 and confronts the adjacent side of lever 55. Arm 58 is secured to an inter nally threaded bushing 6!, which is threaded onto an elongated 'tensioning bolt 62, extending downwardly through an opening 53 formed in the top wall 19. Bolt 62 has a collar 5% secured thereabout within the housing H, so that bolt 62 will be held by cooperation of collar 54 and head 55 against endwise movement, but will be permitted free rotary movement. The vertical position of the resilient member 5: will provide the desired tension on the lower arm of lever 5 for automatically returning wedge to its innermost position.

A vertically disposed flange 66 extends inwardly from an adjacent end wall of the housing and provides an abutment for housing 58, so that this housing will be held against inward movement under pressure of lever 45.

In the use and operation or" this device, housing II is disposed about rod iii, with disc 5i secured by fastening members 5 3 to rod Id. Clamp Si is secured about rod ill by fastening members 32, bearing against anti-friction member Disc 5| is rotatably retained in flange all by means of a split retaining ring 6?, engaging in an annular recess 83, carried by flange 26. As rod H3 is raised by upward movement of the walking beam or other elevating means, the weight of rod IE] will through bushing 24, which is movable through opening 22 in top wall !9, cause lateral shifting of wedges 4! to the left, as viewed in Figure 4.

Ledges 33, which are carried by bushing 24 and plate 23, will move inwardly with respect to housing It) and in this manner eiiect rocking of the upper end of lever G5 to the left and the lower end thereof to the right. As the lower end of lever 5 rocks to the right, lever tensioning member 5? will be compressed and pawl 48 will rotate disc 51, which is secured to rod iii. As disc rotates holding dog 55 will prevent reverse rotation of disc 5!, so that rod iii will be progressively rotated in one direction during each upward movement thereof.

It will be noted from Figure 2 of the drawings that plate 5| is loosely mounted in flange 2%,so that this plate or disc may have sumcient vertical movement within flange 2c to permit relative movement of housing i I with respect to bearing plate 23. This device will provide for the automatic rotation or tightening of the polished rod, the degree of rotation with each vertical movement of the polished rod being regulated by the length of movement of wedge ii. Wedge 4!, with rollers 42 and 43, are held against inward 4': movement with respect to housing II by means of a plate 69 secured by fastening members 18 to ledge 3'! and an adjacent end wall.

The upper end 4-! of lever 45 is limited in its outward movement by means of an adjusting bolt 'H threaded through housing H, so that the rocking movement of lever 45 can be regulated to the desired degree.

What is claimed is:

1. A sucker rod tightener comprising a housing engaging about polish rod, oppositely extending trunnions carried by said housing, means engaging said trunnions supporting said housing for vertical reciprocating movement, and means in said housing for effectin rotation of said rod in one direction upon upward movement of said housing, said latter means including a pair of oppositely disposed wedge members slidably mounted in said housing, a plate, movable endwise with respect to said housing and rotatable about said rod, said plate formed with inclined surfaces engageable with said wedge members for sliding said Wedge members upon vertical movement of said housing, a pair of rock levers engageable at one end thereof with said wedge members, whereby movement of said wedge members will rock said levers, a pair of oppositely disposed pawls carried by the opposite ends of said levers, and a toothed plate loose in said housing and fixed to said rod, said pawls engaging said plate to thereby effect the rotation of said plate upon rocking of said levers in one direction.

2. A sucker rod as set forth in claim 1 including means for yieldably urging said levers for rocking movement in the opposite direction,

3. A sucker rod as set forth in claim 1 including means for yieldably urging said levers for rocking movement in the opposite direction, wherein the tension or" said means urging said levers may be adjusted by a tensioning bolt, accessible exteriorly of said housing.

l. A sucker rod as set forth in claim 1 including a resilient holding dog carried by said housing and engaging with the teeth of said plate, for holding the latter against reverse rotation.

5. A sucker rod tightener comprising a housing engaging about a polish rod, means to vertically reciprocate said housing, means in said housing for effecting rotation of said rod in one direction upon upward movement of said housing, said means including a pair of oppositely disposed wedge members slidably mounted in said housing, correlated means loosely carried by said housing and fixed to said rod for effecting sliding movement of said wedge members upon upward movement of said housing, a pair of rock levers engageable at one end thereof with said wedge members whereby movement of said wedge members will rock said levers, and adjusting means for limiting the rocking movement of said levers, said latter means including a threaded bolt for each lever accessible exteriorly of said housing and interiorly engageable with the upper ends of said rock levers, and means actuated by rocking of said levers in one direction for eifecting turning of said rod in one direction.

JAMES D. CAVAI'JESS. 

